Come Fly With Me

The Kruth Talks: Aug. 25

A new concourse at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) will open Sept. 1. The new $20 million wing will provide an additional eight gates for travelers. Other improvements to the airport include a new sit-down restaurant and lounge, gift shop, newsstand, workstations to charge electronics, free Wi-Fi and the state’s first moving walkway. Additionally, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that a new segment of U.S. 412 will improve access between Interstate 540 and Arkansas 112 where the airport is located.

Scrolling Up

A Torah scroll written was dedicated to the community by Joe Ratner and his family. The Torah is a handwritten scripture of the five books of Moses and takes approximately one year to complete. The estimated cost of the Torah transcription is between $30,000 and $50,000.

Hog Football Heaven

Following high anticipation of the successful Arkansas Razorback football team, the University of Arkansas announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the $28 million Football Center will be held on Nov. 4. According to the press release, the new facility will include a locker room, team meeting rooms, athletic training rooms, equipment room, a student-athlete lounge and study area, coaches offices, a recruiting reception area and a museum celebrating the tradition of Razorback Football. Razorback Athletics met a grant challenge by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and raised $18.4 million. The Donald W. Reynolds grant will add $10 million to funds raised. The estimated cost of the project is $35 million.

Clothesline Turns 60

More than 200 artisans and crafts people will participate in the 60th annual Prairie Grove Clothesline Fair held Sept. 3-5 at the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The park is located on Arkansas 62 and parking is $5 per vehicle. Living history demonstrations, musical entertainment, square dancing and food vendors are all important features to this annual event.

Library Leave

Executive director of the Fayetteville Public Library, Shawna Thorup, is on administrative leave while an investigation about her conduct with staff is held, according to libraryjournal.com. The library board of trustees unanimously voted to place Thorup on leave.

Scam Alert

The Bentonville Police Department issued a warning about an Internet scam involving threatening messages. One Bentonville resident notified the police about an email that threatened to kill the recipient if $3,000 was not sent to the sender. If anyone receives an email from an unknown sender requesting money be sent, they are encouraged to file a police report.

ACT-ing Up

Congratulations to Taylor Tilmon of Washington Junior High in Bentonville for her achievement on the Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program). Tilmon was selected to take the ACT as an eighth-grader and scored in the top 10 percent of all Arkansas students who took the test. She attended a three-week program at Trinity University in San Antonio to participate in an engineering problem solving program.